Mail slot device for a glass door



June 14, 1960 B. H. SCHINDLER 2,940,138

MAIL SLOT DEVICE FOR A GLASS DOOR Filed Oct. 21, 1957 INVENTOR. Bel/N0 h. SO /W045? United States Patent MAIL SLOT DEVICE FOR A GLASS noon Bruno H. Schindler Semco Engineering 8: Manufacturlng Co., 42owamn Lane, Inglewood, Calif.

Filed Oct. 21, 1957, Ser. No. 691,262

2 Chime. (CI. 20-39) This invention relates to a mail slot device for a glass door and is particularly directed to an improved form of closure for a mail slot.

Glass doors of the type used in retail sales establishments and other business enterprises have heretofore been provided with open slots through which mail can be inserted. However, such open slots have been found to be unsatisfactory since they are, of course, not weathertight and cause objectionable drafts within the building. In accordance with my invention, I provide a novel form of closure device for a mail slot opening in the glass door. It is the principal object of my invention to provide such a device having a hinged closure mounted in a frame and insertable into a mail slot formed along the hinged edge.

Another object is to provide such a device having a channel frame which receives the edge of the glass in the vicinity of the opening or slot, which device has a tongue projection of a width equivalent to the thickness of the glass door. This tongue extends into the metallic channel frame for the door itself. Other and more detailed objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings,

Figure l'is a side elevation showing a glass door and illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away, showmg details of the preferred form of my invention.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the lines 3-3 as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation partly broken away, taken substantially on the lines 4-4 as shown in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, the glass door generally designated includes a pane of relatively thick glass 11 mounted in a channel frame or channel member 12. The frame extends around the outer edge of the glass pane 11. Suitable hinge means (not shown) are provided along the hinged edge 13 and suitable latch means 14 are provided on the swinging edge 15. In accordance with my invention, a vertically extending aperture 16 is formed in the glass pane 11 along the hinged edge 13. This aperture may be rectangular but I prefer to round the corners as shown at 17 for purposes of appearance.

The mail slot closure device generally designated 18 includes a channel frame 19 shaped to fit the aperture 16. This channel frame includes parallel flange portions 20 and 21 defining a groove or channel to receive the edge of the glass pane 11 in the vicinity of the aperture 16. The channel is made deep enough to hide any irregularities in the cut which forms the aperture 16.

The frame 19 includes a rail 22 which extends along the hinged edge 13 of the door frame 23 and this rail cooperates with the channel portion of the channel frame 19 to define an opening 24. The rail 22 includes an extension or fin 25 of reduced width which projects into the glass-receiving groove of the door frame 23. This the door frame 23 so that the side edges are flush there,-

with. The rail 22 may conveniently be securedto the channel portion of the frame 19 by means of welding 26.

A hinged closure 27 is provided to close the open-' ing 24. This closure 27 comprises a plate 28 shaped to fit the opening 24 and having a swinging edge adapted to close against an inwardly directed lip 29 on the chan nel portion of the frame 19. Closure 27 also includes a marginal tubular bar 30 extending along the curved surface 31 formed on the rail 22.

Coaxial pivot pins 34 are fixed in the tubular bar 30 and project into the openings 35 in the frame 19. A coil spring 36 is mounted in a counterbore 37 provided in one end of the cylinderical rod 30. This spring is formed of a continuous helical wire having one end 38 fixed in the plate 28 and the other end 39 fixed to the rail 22. From this description it will be understood that closure 27 may be swung about the axis of the hinge pins 34 and that the coil spring 36 acts resiliently to hold the closure against the lip 29.

The mail slot closure device 18 is installed before the metal frame 12' is mounted on'the door. The glass pane is cut by conventional means to provide the aperture 16 and the frame 19 is inserted into the aperture from the edge of the door. The door frame 23 is then installed and the channel portion which receives the edge of the glass pane also receives the fin 25 on the rail 22. The device 18 is installed so that the closure 27 swings into the interior of the building.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. For use with a door formed of a pane of glass having an aperture on one edge, and having a grooved frame encompassing said edge, the improvement comprising, in combination: a curved channel member shaped to fit the aperture and having parallel flanges to receive the pane of glass therebetween, the channel member having parallel end portions, a straight rail fixed to and extending between said end portions and cooperating with said channel member to define an opening, the channel member and rail being insertable laterally into the aperture in the absence of the grooved frame, said channel member and said'rail having outer surfaces flush with the outer surfaces of the grooved frame, a hinged closure in the opening including a longitudinal bar extending along said rail within the opening, pivot means at the ends of the bar mounting the closure on the channel member, resilient means acting to urge the closure to a position to close the opening, and a fin on the rail projecting away from the bar for reception in the grooved frame, the fin having a thickness equal to the distance between said spaced flange portions of the channel member.

2. For use with a door formed of a pane of glass having an aperture on one edge, and having a grooved frame encompassing said edge, the improvement comprising, in combination: a curved channel member shaped to fit the aperture and having parallel flanges to receive the pane of glass therebetween, the channel member having parallel end portions, 2. straight rail fixed to and extending between said end portions and cooperating with said channel member to define an opening, the channel member and rail being insertable laterally into the aperture in the absence of the grooved frame, said channel member and said rail having outer surfaces flush with the outer surfaces of the grooved frame, the channel F Ic Patented June 14, 1960' member havlng a; lip pgojeeting into the opening, a

hinged closui'e in the opening including a longitudinal bar extending along said rail within the opening, pivot means at the ends of the'bar mounting the closure on tlge channel member, resilient means acting .tourge theclosuge against said liptfo close-the openingyand a fin 0n" the rail, projectingaway frvorn' the bzir for reception in the grooved frame, the fin having 2L thickness equal i n between. said spaced flange portions of the channel member.

7 References Cited iii the me. of this-pm UNITED S ATES PATENTS 

